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Medication up, glaucoma surgery down in past decade, Australian study finds
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Over the 10-year period from 1994 to 2003, the number of prescriptions for glaucoma medications in Australia increased, resulting in a large increase in government payments for pharmaceuticals, a study found. At the same time the number of glaucoma surgery and laser trabeculoplasty procedures declined, the study author said.
Mark J. Walland, FRANZCO, FRACS, found that the number of prescriptions for glaucoma drugs increased from 1.9 million to 3.3 million during the decade-long period. This resulted in a cost increase to the country’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in excess of US$37 million (AUD$50 million). Prostaglandin analogues now make up 49% of all glaucoma topical therapy medications, Dr. Walland found.
During the decade, the number of laser trabeculoplasties fell by 60% and the number of trabeculectomies by 58%, he said. The numbers of secondary surgical procedures have generally remained stable, although there is some fluctuation from state to state, he found.
The study is published in the December issue of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.